Caldwell County is a county of 80,536 people in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. The median age is 45.4, about 6 years above the US median. The foreign-born share is 3%. The typical home is worth $192,200, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $744 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $56,425, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Caldwell County
What changed most since 1990
White share93.8% → 85.3%(−8.5 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median age34.7 → 45.4(+10.7 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Adults with a bachelor's degree8.9% → 18.8%(+9.9 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.9%(1,044)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)12.7%(557)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.8%(1,739)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.1%(224)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.8%(36)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,370 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Caldwell County, decade by decade
Caldwell County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
70,709
$61,660
$122,404
8.9%
14.7
2000
77,415
$65,104
$145,368
10.4%
21.4
2010
83,029
$53,603
$153,783
12.3%
26.3
2020
80,652
$55,868
$151,747
15.8%
35.6
2024
80,536
$56,425
$192,200
18.8%
33.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County, North Carolina has about 80,536 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Caldwell County, North Carolina earns about $56,425 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Caldwell County, North Carolina expensive?
In Caldwell County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $192,200, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.
How educated are people in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Caldwell County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
About 13.4% of people in Caldwell County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Caldwell County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Caldwell County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,827 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.
